Green is the new black, at least where your office is concerned. The impact that innovation and industry have had on the environment is monumental, and now it’s time to fix that. Businesses can have a positive effect on the local and global environment, but you have to be willing to make changes and potentially invest money too.

While there might be some initial costs involved in giving your office a green makeover, the savings will soon catch up, helping to lower your running costs and help you run your office more efficiently. Are you ready to commit to a more ethical and sustainable workplace? Take a look at the following tips.

Why go green?

Thanks to better awareness and the effects of social media, we’re all more aware of the serious threats facing our planet. Plastic and fuel use are just some of the things that are impacting our planet, contributing to pollution, waste in our oceans and more. A company that demonstrates a commitment to greener practices can make a good impression on existing and new customers or clients, as well as set a great example to other businesses.

By helping your business go green, you’re also helping your business to run more efficiently and do more with less. A commitment to going green is something you can continuously improve on, so make it a part of your business’ ongoing strategy.

Make a commitment

Many businesses are aware that they need to be greener, but making a solid commitment is one of the ways to ensure that it happens. Whether you decide to make a public statement or outline it in your forward plan for the year, making a commitment to being more eco-friendly will make it easier to make it happen. There are multiple ways to communicate your commitment to sustainability, but only if you’re ready to get serious about your greener practices.

Analyse your waste

Take a closer look at your business’ practices - could you make some changes? If you manufacture products, for example, could you reduce your packaging or incorporate recyclable materials? If your recycling practices need a revamp, could you introduce new policies? Taking a realistic look at how much waste your business produces and what you can do to reduce it will help you identify areas for change.

You can also take a look at your energy consumption. It’s easy for businesses to waste energy by leaving too many electronics turned on and not having efficient heating/cooling systems. By hiring an industrial electrician to analyse and renew your power distributions and make better use of your energy, you could save your business money alongside helping the environment. You can find various changes in unexpected places, so carry out a thorough review of your practices to make sure you drastically reduce your waste.

Learn how to cut back

There are several ways your business can cut back to help the environment. Is the amount of business travel undertaken by your business really justifiable? If not, think of alternatives to business travel such as video conferencing and using online collaboration tools.

If you use a lot of catering for various meetings and events - how much of it ends up going to waste because you’ve over-ordered? You could analyse how much actually gets eaten, and either pledge to reduce it or donate leftover food to those in need.

These measures will not only make your business greener, but could reduce your running costs too.

Invest in making changes

To make positive change, sometimes you need to spend money. You could invest in some solar panels to power your business, while also making for a positive PR story. Rain collection systems can help power toilet and sewage systems, making the most of natural resources and cutting costs.

Remember that you don’t need to make multiple changes at once, and you can take your time to implement different policies. Setting targets for your business is one way to implement change gradually and at a pace that you can manage.

Encourage a change in employee attitudes

There are many ways you can encourage your employees to be greener. From making sure that they recycle waste to using multi-use bottles, there are different initiatives you can put in place. You can also encourage employees to adopt more eco-friendly practices outside of the workplace, such as green commuting. Many employees will welcome the chance to get involved in developing more sustainable practices for your business, so consult with them to help drive changes forward.

Take part in local environmental projects

Volunteering in community projects is a good way to boost employee morale, and there are plenty of local environmental projects you can get involved in with your staff. You could take part in organised activities such as energy switch-offs or beach clean-ups, or you could organise your own activities and invite others to take part. Getting out of the office to do some good for the environment can be an excellent way to encourage team bonding, and helps everyone return to their work feeling refreshed and energised.

Add some greenery

Is it time to brighten up your office? Perhaps adding some greenery could be the answer. If your office is full of natural light, plants can thrive, helping to lift your office and the spirits of your employees. Choose plants that are easy to maintain, as well as those that are suitable for allergy sufferers - you don’t want to trigger reactions across the office!

Choose greener suppliers

Adopting greener practices for your business involves more than just improving internal processes and policies. By choosing greener suppliers for your business, you’re demonstrating that you’re taking sustainability seriously and boosting businesses that work hard to work in more eco-friendly ways. While you might be tied into your current suppliers, it’s worth considering making the switch when contracts come to an end or you’re taking out new supplier contracts.

There are many ways to make your business greener, helping to streamline your business while also ensuring you do your part to help the environment. Set a great example for your employees and your community by taking a more eco-friendly approach to your business.